Service Material from the General Service Office
SERVICES PROVIDED BY G.S.O./A.A.W.S.
The General Service Office
“….It serves as a clearinghouse and exchange point for the wealth of A.A.
experience accumulated over the years, coordinates a wide array of activities
and services, and oversees the publication, all translations of, and distribution
of A.A. Conference-approved literature and service materials.”
–The A.A. Service Manual, page S76
Staff members on assignments help with group problems by sharing accumulated A.A.
experience through extensive correspondence, phone calls, the A.A. Web site and by
traveling, upon invitation, to A.A. events, and in keeping with General Service
Conference Advisory Actions will refer local matters to area delegates. Most staff
members are assigned to handle correspondence from a specific geographic area
(region). Equal services are provided in Spanish and French, whenever possible.
The following services may be re-distributed to another assignment:
Cooperation With the Professional Community (C.P.C.)
• Supervises and provides the following:
o Welcome letter to newly listed Area C.P.C. Committee Chairs; C.P.C. Kit
to Area C.P.C. Chairs; C.P.C. Workbooks to District/Other Chairs.
o C.P.C. Literature Discount Package Order Form and C.P.C.-related
service material.
• Coordinates the following:
o A.A. exhibit at national conferences for professionals; refers local
conference invitations to local committees.
o About A.A. bulletin for professionals.
o Every three years, hosts the Annual Day of Sharing with Al-Anon Family
Group Headquarters and National Council on Alcoholism and Drug
Dependence (N.C.A.D.D.).
o Working closely with Publications Department and corresponding trustees’
committee, coordinates literature and videos that fall under the purview of
this assignment and per Advisory Actions applicable to A.A. Conferenceapproved literature.
• Provides periodic mailings (activity update reports) to C.P.C. chairs.
• Responds to requests from C.P.C. committees for shared experience.
• Meets monthly with medical students of Cornell University Medical Center who
visit G.S.O., and provides information about A.A.
• As liaison representative, attends national meetings of the National Institute for
Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (N.I.A.A.A.) and Recovery Month planning
meetings.
• Provides A.A. information in response to inquiries from professionals, and refers
to local committees whenever appropriate.
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As co-secretary to trustees’ Committee on C.P.C./Treatment Facilities/Special
Needs/Accessibilities and secretary to GSC Committee on C.P.C., prepares
agenda, background and minutes/report; sends highlights of trustees’ committee
following each board meeting to General Service Conference committee.
Maintains assignment documentation/history on C.P.C.
Liaison to other Twelve Step Fellowships, such as Al-Anon, N.A., O.A., G.A., etc.
Contact point for ‘special international contacts,’ such as International Pilots &
Aviation Industry Professionals, International Doctors in A.A., International
Lawyers in A.A., International Council for Homosexual Men & Women in A.A.,
and International Conference of Young People in A.A. (I.C.Y.P.A.A.), etc.
Corrections
• Supervises and provides the following:
o Welcome letter to newly listed Area/District/Other Corrections/H&I/BTG
Committee Chairs; Corrections Kit to Area Corrections Chairs; Corrections
Workbook to District/Other Chairs.
o Corrections Literature Discount Package Order Form and Correctionsrelated service material.
o Distributes the video “Carrying the Message Behind These Walls.”
• Provides periodic mailings (activity update reports) to Corrections/H&I/BTG
chairs.
• Responds to requests from Corrections committees for shared experience and
contacts.
• Coordinates the following:
o Corrections Correspondence Service (C.C.S.) for members in correctional
facilities.
o Forwards pre-release contact requests to local corrections committees.
o Sharing From Behind the Walls publication for inmates.
o Every other year, provides informational letter to wardens and corrections
professionals in U.S./Canada.
o Working closely with Publications Department and corresponding trustees’
committee, coordinates literature and videos that fall under the purview of this
assignment and per Advisory Actions applicable to A.A. Conference-approved
literature.
• Responds to letters from inmates.
• Communicates the need for outside C.C.S. letter writers.
• Provides limited complimentary A.A. literature to inmates, upon request.
• Provides A.A. information in response to inquiries from corrections professionals,
and refers to local committees, whenever appropriate.
• As secretary to the trustees’ and GSC committees on Corrections, prepares
agenda, background and minutes/report; sends highlights of trustees’ committee
following each board meeting to the General Service Conference Committee.
• Maintains assignment documentation/history on Corrections.
Public Information (P.I.)
• Supervises and provides the following:
o Welcome letter to newly listed Area/District/Other P.I. Committee Chairs;
P.I. Kit to Area P.I. Chairs; P.I. Workbook to District/Other Chairs.
o P.I. Literature Discount Packages Order Form and P.I.-related service
material.
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Coordinates the following:
o Annual Anonymity Letter to Media.
o Triennial A.A. Membership Survey.
o Press Releases and Public Service Announcements for TV and Radio.
o P.I. activities at International Convention.
o Works closely with Publications Department and corresponding trustees’
committee, coordinates literature, Public Service Announcements (PSAs)
and videos that fall under the purview of this assignment and per Advisory
Actions applicable to A.A. Conference-approved literature.
Responds to requests from P.I. committees for shared experience.
Provides PSA distribution lists to area P.I. committees.
Refers invitations for A.A. informational presentations at schools/educational
institutions to local committees.
Refers invitations to local health/community fairs to local P.I. committees and
provides limited quantities of A.A. literature for this purpose and upon request.
Provides periodic mailings (activity update reports) to P.I. chairs.
Provides accurate and consistent information about A.A. in response to inquiries
from media/researchers/students and refers to local committees whenever
appropriate.
Forwards anonymity breaks at the level of public media to area delegates;
clarifies misinformation about A.A. in print whenever appropriate and on a caseby-base basis.
As secretary to the trustees’ and General Service Conference committees on
P.I., prepares agenda, background, minutes/report; sends highlights of trustees’
committee following each board meeting to the General Service Conference
Committee.
Maintains assignment documentation/history on P.I.
Treatment Facilities (T.F.)/Loners/Special Needs/Remote Communities
• Supervises and provides the following:
o Welcome letter to newly listed Area/District/Other T.F. Committee Chairs;
T.F. Kit to Area T.F. Chairs; T.F. Workbook to District/Other Chairs.
o Welcome letters and Special Needs packet to newly listed
Area/District/Other Special Needs Committee Chairs; provides Special
Needs Packet.
o T.F. Literature Discount Package Order Form and T.F. related service
material.
o Distributes the video “Hope.”
o Working closely with Publications Department and corresponding trustees’
committee, coordinates literature and videos that fall under the purview of
this assignment and per Advisory Actions applicable to A.A. Conferenceapproved literature.
• Provides periodic mailings (activity update reports) to chairs of T.F./H&I/BTG and
Special Needs committees.
• Responds to requests from T.F./H&I/BTG committees for shared experience and
contacts.
• Responds to letters from clients or patients in treatment centers and refers to
local committees whenever appropriate.
• Responds to inquiries from treatment professionals, provides A.A. information
and literature, and refers to local committee whenever appropriate.
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As co-secretary to the trustees’ Committee on C.P.C./Treatment
Facilities/Special Needs/Accessibilities and secretary to the General Service
Conference Committee on Treatment Facilities/Special Needs/Accessibilities,
prepares agenda, background, minutes/report; sends highlights of trustees’
committee following each board meeting to General Service Conference
Committee.
Coordinates Special Needs-related service material
Provides special needs formatted literature when appropriate.
Responds to inquiries pertaining to Special Needs from members, groups,
committees and provides shared experience.
Responds to inquires from professionals working with special needs population.
Communicates with alcoholics with special needs regarding suitability of current
literature formats.
Coordinates the following for Loners/Internationalists:
o Bimonthly Loners-Internationalist Meeting (LIM) bulletin (a meeting-bymail).
o Provides complimentary literature, including the Loners/Internationalists/
Homers Directory and Box 4-5-9 subscription.
Responds to letters from Loners/Internationalists/Homers/Port Contacts/Loner
Sponsors; provides contact information for members in military upon request.
Provides shared experience on working with remote communities.
Provides assistance to the chairs of the pre-Conference Remote Communities
Meeting and sets up meeting prior to the General Service Conference (GSC).
Maintains assignment documentation/history on T.F./Loners/Internationalists/
Special Needs/Remote Communities.
Literature
• Supervises and provides the following:
o Welcome letter and informational packet on A.A. literature for newly listed
Area/District/Other Literature Committee Chairs.
• Coordinates the following:
o Recovery Conference-approved A.A. Literature
o Works closely with Publications Department on Box 4-5-9 publication for
the Fellowship
o Calendar of Events for Box 459 and related correspondence
o A.A. literature display package for conventions/conference/roundups,
committees, etc.
o Working closely with Publications Department and corresponding trustees’
committee, coordinates recovery literature and other publications that fall
under the purview of this assignment and per Advisory Actions applicable
to A.A. Conference-approved literature.
• Provides periodic mailings (activity update reports) to Literature chairs.
• As secretary to the trustees’ and GSC committees on Literature, prepares
agenda, background and minutes/report; sends highlights of trustees’ committee
following each board meeting to GSC Committee.
• Responds to requests from Literature committees for shared experience.
• Responds to inquiries about A.A. Conference-approved literature when
appropriate.
• Maintains assignment documentation/history on Literature.
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Conference
• Coordinates the annual General Service Conference (GSC) including G.S.O.
Conference Planning Meetings and Delegate Chairpersons Orientation in
January.
• Supervises the following material for Conference members:
o GSC Communications Kit and Conference-related documents, forms, etc.
o GSC Manual.
o GSC Final Report.
o GSC Informational Mailings/Communications.
o GSC Background Material on Hardcopy, CD and GSC Dashboard.
o Early-Bird Box 4-5-9 and Conference issue.
o Advisory Actions and Additional Committee Consideration Lists.
• Seeks suggestions from areas for GSC theme, presentation and workshop topics
and agenda items.
• Responds to requests from area delegates for shared experience and
Conference-related inquiries where appropriate.
• Distributes circulating folder of area and district bulletins/newsletters for staff
review.
• As secretary to the trustees’ Committee on the General Service Conference and
Conference Agenda Committee, prepares agenda, background, and
minutes/report; sends highlights of trustees’ committee following each board
meeting to GSC Committee.
• Maintains assignment documentation/history on General Service Conference.
Regional Forums
• Coordinates Regional Forums that includes:
o Negotiating Hotel Contract (costs, rooms, set-up, equipment, personnel,
etc.).
o Scheduling participants.
o Working with Host Committee.
o Mass mailing to all groups and trusted servants in region.
o Translations as needed.
o Regional Forum announcements.
• Supervises the following material for Forums:
o Registration Forms/Flyers.
o Early-Bird Forum Newsletter.
o Agenda and Program.
o Evaluation Forms and Summary.
o Final Report.
o Translation Equipment as needed.
o Forum-related Service Material.
o On-site Forum Displays.
o On-site A.A. Conference-approved Literature and Service Material.
o Forum information for G.S.O.’s A.A. Web site.
• Responds to Forum-related inquiries.
• Assists Local Forum committees upon request.
• As co-secretary to the trustees’ and General Service Conference committees on
International Convention/Regional Forums, prepares agenda, background, and
minutes/report.
• Maintains assignment documentation/history on Regional Forums.
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Group Services
• Supervises and provides the following:
o D.C.M. and G.S.R. kits for newly listed D.C.M.s and G.S.R.s.
o A.A. Group Handbook for newly listed groups.
o Information/literature packages for starting new groups.
o List of Service Material Provided by G.S.O.
o New Group Forms; Change of Group Information Forms; new
Central/Intergroup Office Forms.
• As member on Intergroup/Central Office Seminar Policy Committee and liaison to
local offices, participates at the Annual Central/Intergroup Seminar; provides
quarterly mailings (activity update reports) to Central/Intergroup Offices.
• Responds to requests from local offices for shared experience.
• As secretary to General Service Conference Committee on Report and Charter,
prepares agenda, background and minutes/report.
• Supervises A.A. Directories and U.S./Canada Central/Intergroup lists; revisions
and updates to A.A. Guidelines and Service Material (SMF); updates to the A.A.
Service Manual and revisions per GSC Advisory Actions.
• Distributes circulating folder of local central/intergroup office bulletins/newsletters
for staff review.
• Maintains assignment documentation/history on Central/Intergroup Office
Seminar, Report and Charter and Service Material.
International
• Responds to inquiries from members, groups, committees outside U.S./Canada;
refers to country G.S.O./Service Office where one exits.
• Provides shared experience on starting new A.A. groups in countries where A.A.
is getting started; refers to nearest G.S.O. when appropriate.
• Responds to inquiries from professionals overseas where no service office exists.
• Upon request, provides contacts for members relocating/traveling overseas.
• Supervises the International Directory.
• Provides A.A. literature upon request where no local offices exist and there are
limited resources.
• Maintains communication with country G.S.O.’s/Service Offices and responds to
requests for shared experience.
• Coordinates the World Service Meeting (WSM) held every other year including
G.S.O. planning meetings.
• Supervises the following material for WSM members:
o WSM Informational Mailings/Communications.
o WSM Manual.
o WSM Final Report.
• Provides pertinent information on translations of A.A. literature and assists with
new translations by providing copyright/reprint guidelines.
• Upon invitation, travels overseas to service events, conventions, zonal meetings,
etc.; meets with professionals as arranged by local A.A.s.
• Distributes circulating folder of country G.S.O. bulletins/newsletters for staff
review.
• As secretary to the trustees’ International Committee, prepares agenda,
background, and minutes/report.
• Maintains assignment documentation/history on International.
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International Convention
• Coordinates programming, finances, and Convention facilities.
• Provides Convention information through mailings, Box 4-5-9, G.S.O.’s A.A. Web
site and AA Grapevine.
• Works with local A.A. committee to provide Host Committee for this event.
• As co-secretary to the trustees’ and GSC committees on International
Convention/Regional
Forums,
prepares
agenda,
background,
and
minutes/report.
• Maintains assignment documentation/history on International Convention.
Nominating/G.S.O.’s A.A. Web Site
• Provides information on board vacancies that includes announcements, resume
forms, guidelines and procedure information.
• As secretary to the trustees’ Nominating Committee and GSC Committee on
Trustees, prepares agenda, background, minutes/report and communications.
• Supervises G.S.O.’s A.A. Web site; works closely with Publications Department
on changes to Web site and in consultation with Intra-office Web Site Committee
and A.A.W.S. Board Services Committee.
• Responds to suggestions for changes to G.S.O.’s A.A. Web site.
• Upon request, shares collected experience with local Web site committees.
• Prepares Web site reports to A.A.W.S. Board and GSC Committee on Public
Information.
• Maintains assignment documentation/history on Nominating and G.S.O.’s A.A.
Web site
The following departments provide additional services:
Archives
• Maintains G.S.O. Archives in accordance with accepted practices and standards
characteristic of the industry.
• Responds to requests for research and information from the Fellowship, G.S.O.
staff, A.A. service workers, trustees and directors, and other external researchers
as to various aspects of A.A. history.
• Provides information about group and area histories.
• Provides assistance to area and district archivists regarding collection and
preservation.
• Supervises and provides the following:
o Archives Workbook.
o Archives Guidelines.
o “The A.A. Archives” pamphlet.
o Distributes video “Markings on the Journey.”
• Produces and distributes, upon request, historical photograph sets and
photographs of our co-founders (A.A. members only); copies of pre-publication
manuscripts of the first edition of the Big Book; bookmarks and wallet cards; and
other give-a-ways.
• Maintains and updates content for the Archives portal on G.S.O.’s A.A. Web site.
• Maintains rotating exhibits of interest, as well as a library and other items of
interest, for visitors touring G.S.O.
• Upon request, coordinates scheduling and shipping of a traveling exhibit for area
events.
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Writes and distributes Markings, the Archives newsletter.
Collects copies of all materials printed or produced by AAWS and the Grapevine,
as well as copies of all board minutes, committee reports, and other significant
permanent records.
Preserves all historical and current permanent records of AAWS and the AA
Grapevine, through digitization, preservation photocopying, and other archival
preservation techniques.
Collects oral history interviews from early members.
Processes, organizes, and catalogs all historical and current permanent records
so they will be accessible and searchable.
Manages storage and inventory of inactive records stored off-site.
As secretary to the trustees’ and GSC Archives committees, prepares agenda,
background and minutes/report; sends highlights of trustees’ committee following
each board meeting to GSC Committee.
Finance/Contributions
• Receives and acknowledges all contributions from A.A. groups and members.
• Provides self-support packets upon request and supervises service material such
as group contribution envelopes and birthday envelopes.
• Responds to all inquiries pertaining to individual (member) contributions, group
contribution records, account balances, and A.A. finances where appropriate.
• Sets up and supervises annual budgets and in general maintain accurate
financial records.
• Supervises content for the Finance portal on G.S.O.’s A.A. Web site.
• Chief Financial Officer (C.F.O.): As secretary to the A.A.W.S. Board Finance
Committee, trustees’ Finance and Budgetary Committee and the GSC
Committee on Finance, prepares agenda, background, minutes and reports.
• Responds to inquiries pertaining to bequests.
Records
• Maintains data base of group and service position records, which includes
mailing lists.
• Supervises annual Group Records update.
• Provides FNV (Fellowship New Vision) data base program and instructions for
area registrars or area trusted servant responsible for area group records.
• Processes all updates to records including new group information, trusted
servants, local offices, etc.
Publications
• Edits, designs and publishes all A.A. Conference-approved literature, video,
audio and special needs items in three languages: English, Spanish and French
and some service material items.
• Creates catalog and order forms.
• Maintains inventory control.
• Processes all literature orders.
• Handles customer inquiries regarding orders.
• Maintains small in-house shipping department.
• Manages outsourced warehousing and shipping companies.
• Oversees translations/licensing of A.A. World Services copyrighted material.
• Research and development for new publications and new formats.
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Publishes the following:
o Box 4-5-9.
o G.S.O. Quarterly Report.
o A.A. Directories and Lists of Domestic and International offices.
o Markings.
o About A.A.
o Sharing From Behind the Walls.
o Loners and International Members (LIM) newsletter.
o International Convention souvenirs.
Sends publication updates to local offices, Conference members on new
literature, pricing changes, etc.
Manages day-to-day G.S.O.’s A.A. Web site upkeep and design.
Publications Director and Managing Editor act as editorial and publishing
consultants to the Trustees and Conference Literature committees.
Publications Director acts as publishing consultant to the A.A.W.S. Board of
Directors; provides Publications Reports to A.A.W.S. Board.
Other G.S.O. Services:
• Gives office tours, upon request, to visitors.
• Provides visitor welcome packets.
• Provides informational packets containing some A.A. literature in response to
general inquiries for general information about A.A.
• Sets up annual visit/tour for GSC delegate visitors and guests during Conference
week.
• Sets up large group visits and provides welcome/presentation meeting with
refreshments (Coffee, etc.).
• Provides local A.A. office information to anyone looking for A.A. meetings;
provides group contact information to A.A. members where no local office exists
for Twelfth Step purposes and when appropriate.
• Arranges board meetings, housing and meal forms, mailings for the quarterly
meetings, minutes, dashboard, etc.
• Handles reprint requests/permissions for use of A.A.W.S., Inc. copyrighted
material.
• Provides services to the AA Grapevine Office.
Rev.8/28/09
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